How in the world did they decide to put Leo out there on 4 X 4 for over a minute. Do they realize he can't skate?
- niteislander

He did not have a good game yesterday. Neither did quite a few other players but Komarov was pretty bad.

He did not have a good game yesterday. Neither did quite a few other players but Komarov was pretty bad.
- Cptmjl

I just don't see what he brings.. at all.

I'm not worried. I never expected the Caps to go away easy. Hopefully the Isles will get it done on Thursday.

The power play failure is infuriating. I don't understand how this could be a problem for so long.
- JimmyP

As someone said last night, they had some good looks. But this team lacks finishers. It's why Eberle still has a job. He doesn't do much else, but he's one of the better finishers on the team. There's only so much that the coaches can do with the x's and o's. At some point, someone has to be able to shoot the puck.

I just don't see what he brings.. at all.
- niteislander

I’m not a fan as we all know but he has had some good moments against the panthers and in this series. Last night he did not.

As someone said last night, they had some good looks. But this team lacks finishers. It's why Eberle still has a job. He doesn't do much else, but he's one of the better finishers on the team. There's only so much that the coaches can do with the x's and o's. At some point, someone has to be able to shoot the puck.
- JohnScammo

So many shooting opportunities just passed up in high danger areas last night. Tough to watch when you’re down by a goal.

I’m not a fan as we all know but he has had some good moments against the panthers and in this series. Last night he did not.
- Cptmjl

Agreed. Against a big, physical team like the Caps, Leo has played a useful role delivering hits. But like a lot of the team, he looked a bit worn out last night.

So many shooting opportunities just passed up in high danger areas last night. Tough to watch when you’re down by a goal.
- Cptmjl

What drives me nuts is watching a passing exhibition on the power play. I understand that you can't just shoot from anywhere, but they have a tendency to pass, pass, pass until the damn pass gets deflected or intercepted. If you shoot the puck, at least there's a CHANCE that it goes in, or maybe the goalie gives up a rebound that can be pounced on. But you have to have guys who are willing to crash the net looking for rebounds.

What drives me nuts is watching a passing exhibition on the power play. I understand that you can't just shoot from anywhere, but they have a tendency to pass, pass, pass until the damn pass gets deflected or intercepted. If you shoot the puck, at least there's a CHANCE that it goes in, or maybe the goalie gives up a rebound that can be pounced on. But you have to have guys who are willing to crash the net looking for rebounds.
- JohnScammo

They have to at this point while of course taking into consideration giving up the puck post shot. The Caps have a great PK they haven’t given our point men anytime to get a shot off so the focus has to be to get anything to the net from anywhere right now imo. Like you said team has to get back in the trenches and make it happen in game 5.

I don't know, fellas, I wouldn't overreact to that loss as far as making it a whole lack-of-team-toughness thing. Yeah, they got outhit, but I think that's a direct result of getting outworked and out-skated. You can't "respond physically" if you're constantly chasing the play and not in position to make a good hit...unless you just slash, hold, or hook the guy. And when you're always a step behind the other team, you make rushed, bad plays with the puck. It happened to Washington for three games and I don't think it's because they were physically scared of the Islanders.

So, sure, it looks like the Isles were getting hit and not responding, and they were, but I don't think the problem was their courage; it was their skating. To me, it really came down to Washington found another gear with its back against the wall and the Isles couldn't match it. Maybe they were guilty of looking ahead...wouldn't make them any different from just about everyone here after they went up three games to none. Maybe we're finally just seeing the real Caps after a long layoff and this series is going to be a lot closer than we thought a few days ago. Hell, at the start of the series, I expected to see a Caps team a lot closer to what we saw last night than the team we saw in games two and three.

I don't know, fellas, I wouldn't overreact to that loss as far as making it a whole lack-of-team-toughness thing. Yeah, they got outhit, but I think that's a direct result of getting outworked and out-skated. You can't "respond physically" if you're constantly chasing the play and not in position to make a good hit...unless you just slash, hold, or hook the guy. And when you're always a step behind the other team, you make rushed, bad plays with the puck. It happened to Washington for three games and I don't think it's because they were physically scared of the Islanders.

So, sure, it looks like the Isles were getting hit and not responding, and they were, but I don't think the problem was their courage; it was their skating. To me, it really came down to Washington found another gear with its back against the wall and the Isles couldn't match it. Maybe they were guilty of looking ahead...wouldn't make them any different from just about everyone here after they went up three games to none. Maybe we're finally just seeing the real Caps after a long layoff and this series is going to be a lot closer than we thought a few days ago. Hell, at the start of the series, I expected to see a Caps team a lot closer to what we saw last night than the team we saw in games two and three.
- UIF

Well said and 100% agree.

I don't know, fellas, I wouldn't overreact to that loss as far as making it a whole lack-of-team-toughness thing. Yeah, they got outhit, but I think that's a direct result of getting outworked and out-skated. You can't "respond physically" if you're constantly chasing the play and not in position to make a good hit...unless you just slash, hold, or hook the guy. And when you're always a step behind the other team, you make rushed, bad plays with the puck. It happened to Washington for three games and I don't think it's because they were physically scared of the Islanders.

So, sure, it looks like the Isles were getting hit and not responding, and they were, but I don't think the problem was their courage; it was their skating. To me, it really came down to Washington found another gear with its back against the wall and the Isles couldn't match it. Maybe they were guilty of looking ahead...wouldn't make them any different from just about everyone here after they went up three games to none. Maybe we're finally just seeing the real Caps after a long layoff and this series is going to be a lot closer than we thought a few days ago. Hell, at the start of the series, I expected to see a Caps team a lot closer to what we saw last night than the team we saw in games two and three.
- UIF

Not sure anyone is overreacting just pointing out they better get their crap together after that half arsed showing last night

Not sure anyone is overreacting just pointing out they better get their crap together after that half arsed showing last night
- Cptmjl

Yeah, I don't mean anyone's pulling their hair out or anything. Just in terms of thinking the Isles were playing scared or unable to keep up physically. I think they wanted to hit back and match the physical play, they just couldn't get in position to do it because they weren't playing fast enough. I mean, Mayfield was chasing Wilson all over the place trying to lay a hit on him in the third...the will was certainly there...he just kept eating the boards because he was always a step behind Wilson.

As someone said last night, they had some good looks. But this team lacks finishers. It's why Eberle still has a job. He doesn't do much else, but he's one of the better finishers on the team. There's only so much that the coaches can do with the x's and o's. At some point, someone has to be able to shoot the puck.
- JohnScammo

They seemed to shoot the puck in games 1-3 just fine and even scored. It’s hard to score when your chasing the other team who has the puck.
Just sayin

Not sure anyone is overreacting just pointing out they better get their crap together after that half arsed showing last night
- Cptmjl

Yes, I think that you and I were more focused on the Isles' lack of an effective power play. This in turn means that teams can take liberties with their physical play, and they needn't worry about it hurting them on the score sheet.

I agree with UIF that one bad game shouldn't dictate drastic changes to their approach. However, I am interested to learn how badly beat up guys like Clutterbuck are. That hit by Gudas was pretty close to a low bridge which I thought was frowned upon by the NHL. And on a subsequent play, when Gudas put Martin in a headlock, I was surprised to see Martin fail to respond. I understand that he didn't want to take a penalty and put his team in a hole, but I would think a headlock would bring about both teams getting offsetting penalties at worst.

They seemed to shoot the puck in games 1-3 just fine and even scored. It’s hard to score when your chasing the other team who has the puck.
Just sayin
- nyisles7

Yeah, but they weren't scoring on the power play. I think they have only one pp goal in the series so far? And the conversation was in relation to the power play.

Yeah, I don't mean anyone's pulling their hair out or anything. Just in terms of thinking the Isles were playing scared or unable to keep up physically. I think they wanted to hit back and match the physical play, they just couldn't get in position to do it because they weren't playing fast enough. I mean, Mayfield was chasing Wilson all over the place trying to lay a hit on him in the third...the will was certainly there...he just kept eating the boards because he was always a step behind Wilson.
- UIF

I don’t know they were looking over their shoulders plenty of times in the 2nd and 3rd and not taking hits which led to some turnovers. Yeah sure I agree they were chasing the game which leads to detracting from every part of their game of course but to me they were playing a bit scared imo. With that said I’m not to focused on the physical part of last nights game or the lack there of on our part just the overall piss poor display for 2 1/2 periods. I’m sure they’ll correct it but it was a pretty sharp contrast and nose dive from what we’ve seen so far. I’m hoping it’s not a symptom of what we were discussing yesterday on here with them being able to maintain a high level of play for more than a round. I think they turn it around and play a good game win or lose on Thursday. The way it sounds the Caps will have Backstrom back so they better be ready to go...

Yes, I think that you and I were more focused on the Isles' lack of an effective power play. This in turn means that teams can take liberties with their physical play, and they needn't worry about it hurting them on the score sheet.

I agree with UIF that one bad game shouldn't dictate drastic changes to their approach. However, I am interested to learn how badly beat up guys like Clutterbuck are. That hit by Gudas was pretty close to a low bridge which I thought was frowned upon by the NHL. And on a subsequent play, when Gudas put Martin in a headlock, I was surprised to see Martin fail to respond. I understand that he didn't want to take a penalty and put his team in a hole, but I would think a headlock would bring about both teams getting offsetting penalties at worst.
- JohnScammo

I wasn’t.

I wasn’t.
- Cptmjl

Because?? He's lost his mojo???

Todd Reirden "The Isles have a real good, real strong power play.."



He would fit in nicely here.

Because?? He's lost his mojo???
- JohnScammo

He’s just not that player anymore for the most part.

He’s just not that player anymore for the most part.
- Cptmjl

Unfortunately, I have to agree.

This is the biggest detriment imo. Not being able to make the caps pay for cheap shots could turn into a serious problem for the Islanders real quick. Not sure why this continues to be a huge negative for this team?
- Cptmjl

Too much passing/ not enough shooting. Also their puck support is horrible with the man advantage. They should forget they are on a PP and play it like they are 5 on 5.

I don't know, fellas, I wouldn't overreact to that loss as far as making it a whole lack-of-team-toughness thing. Yeah, they got outhit, but I think that's a direct result of getting outworked and out-skated. You can't "respond physically" if you're constantly chasing the play and not in position to make a good hit...unless you just slash, hold, or hook the guy. And when you're always a step behind the other team, you make rushed, bad plays with the puck. It happened to Washington for three games and I don't think it's because they were physically scared of the Islanders.

So, sure, it looks like the Isles were getting hit and not responding, and they were, but I don't think the problem was their courage; it was their skating. To me, it really came down to Washington found another gear with its back against the wall and the Isles couldn't match it. Maybe they were guilty of looking ahead...wouldn't make them any different from just about everyone here after they went up three games to none. Maybe we're finally just seeing the real Caps after a long layoff and this series is going to be a lot closer than we thought a few days ago. Hell, at the start of the series, I expected to see a Caps team a lot closer to what we saw last night than the team we saw in games two and three.
- UIF

Nailed it.

Unfortunately, I have to agree.
- JohnScammo

Anybody could play on the 4th line wing.

Yeah, but they weren't scoring on the power play. I think they have only one pp goal in the series so far? And the conversation was in relation to the power play.
- JohnScammo

Gotcha, The PP has been bad as far as production for sure. They have moved the puck better and had some good looks which as you said they haven't finished. Beau hit the post on the PP twice last night. They could have used a little luck with one of those going in thats for sure.
When it isn't producing the players know it and try to do more which actually makes it worse instead of just keeping it simple and getting the puck to the net.

Offensively this series other than last night the Islanders have been a pleasant surprise. They have gotten production from most of the lines and were the better team 5v5 without question.
They need to regroup and get back to playing their game and they will be fine. The Caps made a huge push last night and the Islanders just didn't respond. I think that will change next game.